There's Something Inside Your Head (Invader ZiM AU)

Enter The Florpus (Reprise)

Dib's day:
(Change), wake up, panic, run out the door, go to skool, think for a long time, panic again, feel better, then panic again.

Carrie's day:
Wake up, try the bare minimum to look nice today, parents criticize her for hanging out with "the crazy one", go to school feeling like shit, feel a bit better, feel excited.

ZiM's day:
Realize it's morning, wait for any message from Dib, get a message from the Tallest instead, and—you guessed it—get heart broken.

After skool got out, Dib and Carrie went searching for ZiM's base (which was pretty easy, since it only stays in one space). They had a couple small conversations on the way, but nothing too interesting; mostly stuff about cryptids, some movies they've seen, some bands, etc. A few times, Dib would fiddle with the machine still on his arm; it just... wouldn't come off. He twisted, he pulled, there were no buttons to press... it. Wasn't. Coming. Off. If it wasn't coming off soon, he was considering amputation.

By the time they got to the tall green-blue house, Dib began to warn Carrie of ZiM's many dangers. "Beware, he has lots of traps on the lawn—I get caught a l— uh, rarely! I get caught rarely, but it's still good to watch your step..."

Carrie laughed. "Right..." she scanned the sidewalk, taking Dib's hand.

Dib gripped it back, and his face began to heat. "There's a chance he could be waiting for us...so prepare to be grabbed by a bunch of chords or..something like that." Maybe even prepare for a dead alien... Dib thought of the worst. He shook his head, "Alright, uh... follow me!" and pulled her to the sidewalk, stopping suddenly. The gnomes... they were bent over, and didn't even make a move at the appearance of two humans. "Huh.. something's up with the gnomes.."

"Gnomes..?" Carrie noticed as well. "Oh.."

"...something's wrong." Dib pulled Carrie along, rushing to ZiM's unlocked door. This can't be good. "Huh... we can go in." He turned to face her. "I'm sorry you didn't get the full alien-base-entrance experience today.."

"It's fine..." she tried to look in front of him into the house.

"ZiM?" Dib pushes the door open, revealing a darkened living room with an overly loud TV. The stench from the room was that of grease—possibly the work of GIR. Dib began to panic upon the dark room, but realized his fears weren't true once the smell and sounds hit him. Oh, this was something very different. "...not again."

"Again?" Carrie raised an eyebrow.

"Prepare for a moping alien," he whispered. "ZiM?" Dib repeated, looking for the Irken.

"Whaaaaat..." ZiM turned around on the dirt-covered couch, his voice filled with despair. "Can't you see I'm in the process of forever hibernation..." Once he noticed Dib, however, he sat up more and his tone turned a bit normal. "Dib..!" A gloved hand went to his head. "Oww..nooo.."

Dib rushed over, not daring to let go of Carrie's hand. "Let me guess..."

"Again! I don't..." ZiM put his hands to his head, making it clear he was wearing no disguise.

Carrie's eyes widened. "Holy shit! You! You look amazing!" She got a bit close, examining his long antennae and large pink eyes.

"What?" Dib looked at her.

"I know!" ZiM cried. "But they... My Tallest! They don't... they said that getting help from yo— ... a human was the last thing t' kick mme from the armadaaa... they're never coming again!!" He grabbed the end of Dib's coat, burying his face in it (blocking most of his speech). "Wus dh pnt heeeh.."